The Driving Standards Agency is advising candidates to turn up as normal for driving tests. They said: "Candidates who turn up but are unable to take their tests because of industrial action will not have to contact DSA to re-book. They should hear from us with a new date within five to 10 working days."

Via our reporter @kevinjrawlinson : Picket lines have sprung up across London and Brendan Barber, the TUC's general secretary, has called on the government to negotiate. Hospital workers have picketed St Pancras Hospital, although emergency services are still running, and a coalition of the PCS, FDA (which represents senior civil servants) and disability allowance claimants have set up outside Euston Tower, home to the HMRC, among others. A bus equipped with a loudhailer is also touring the city.

11/30/2011 9:58:21 AM

Thank you to our students standing side by side with #ucu pickets #N30 t.co

11/30/2011 9:58:56 AM

#n30 We estimate 90% of Prospect members in the Office of Rail Regulation are on #strike today.

In the South West, rallies are being held in Gloucester, Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge, Bath, Bristol, Taunton, Dorchester, Bournemouth, Exeter, Torbay, Plymouth and Truro, where they have been joined by members of other public sector unions.

Pickets stand outside St. Pancras Hospital in London earlier this morning (Reuters)

11/30/2011 10:03:27 AM

Andy Woolley, South West regional secretary of the NUT, said: "This will be the biggest ever demonstration of concern by teachers as we are joined in this by colleagues in the ATL, NAHT and NASUWT unions, uniting the profession in this way for the first time ever.

UK Border Agency workers gathered at Dover port said they were not asking for any more but were trying to protect the pensions they had been promised.

11/30/2011 10:05:36 AM

Kevin Mills, 48, said: "This is to protect our pensions, at the end of the day. Last year I had 12 years to go until retirement and now I have 19 years. It's going to cost me over £1,000 a year to pay into it and I'm probably going to get £1,000 a year less for it if I live long enough to receive it. It's about protecting what we have got, we are not asking for any more."

11/30/2011 10:05:54 AM

BBC News is reporting that about 80% of schools closed in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. That's approximately 150 primary and secondary schools.

11/30/2011 10:07:59 AM

Police guarding Tyne bridge to prevent any protests. A rally is due to cross the bridge later this morning.

"Karl from the Wirral" has texted the BBC to say: Both Mersey Tunnels are closed today.

11/30/2011 10:10:10 AM

Thousands of public sector workers across Northern Ireland are participating in the most widespread action since the Ulster Workers' Council stoppage in May 1974 which forced the fall of the first power-sharing government.

11/30/2011 10:10:55 AM

The main rally in Northern Ireland is at lunchtime in Belfast while others are planned for Newry, Londonderry, Downpatrick, Omagh, Ballymena, Portadown, Magherafelt and Cookstown.

11/30/2011 10:11:07 AM

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber: "There comes a time when people really have to stand up and make a stand. With the scale of change the Government are trying to force through, making people work much, much longer and get much, much less, that's the call people have made." (Reuters)

11/30/2011 10:12:55 AM

PA: Scotland's Finance Secretary John Swinney said today that it was his duty to cross a picket line and lead a Holyrood debate on public sector pensions.

11/30/2011 10:16:55 AM

John Swinney will be at the Scottish Parliament, despite calls from Labour and the Green Party for politicians to take to the streets with striking public sector employees.

11/30/2011 10:17:17 AM

Other branch picket line at Gem House, Aldgate going well. Next to Job centre and London Met Uni. #n30 #UNISON #unisonhousing

The Scottish Government has said its offices will be open today but there will be some disruption with people on strike.

11/30/2011 10:24:32 AM

A man wears his banner at St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster (AP)

11/30/2011 10:24:53 AM

Matt Cole, the BBC's Europe Correspondent has said: "Have just landed from Brussels at LHR terminal 1. Have never seen it so quiet. Scores of purple jacketed helpers are standing around virtually redundant."

11/30/2011 10:29:46 AM

In Norfolk, 224 out of 307 schools are closed, including 32 of the county's 52 secondary schools. At least four primaries and two secondary schools were partially closed.

11/30/2011 10:30:43 AM

#n30 we marched from the college to st leonards hosp# unison , ucu & unite where len McClusky said it was the loudest picket so far!!

Marches involving more than 1,000 protesters will be taking place in Oxford and Reading this afternoon, Thames Valley Police said.

11/30/2011 10:34:24 AM

Picket line and @CORGlasgow strike support bus at #stowcollege. #n30 t.co

11/30/2011 10:34:31 AM

A small group of workers gathered in a picket outside the Old Bailey in London this morning, where list office staff said all courts that were due to be sitting would do so as planned.

11/30/2011 10:35:06 AM

It is estimated that in Scotland around 300,000 people have walked out. David Watson, Unison organiser for Scotland, said "just about everyone" will be affected by today's action in the same way as on a public holiday.

11/30/2011 10:36:23 AM

Off to Whitworth gardens in #Manchester for union rally. Borrowed unsightly purple puffa jacket so I don't freeze. #N30

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has told BBC News that NHS staff would still have the "best pension scheme available" after the changes and that negotiations were ongoing. Unfortunately this (the strike) is happening at the point of course when we tend to go into winter pressures and the consequences of Christmas and New Year."